I’ve recently gone through the process of purchasing a house and I found that all the questions you ask yourself, your realtor and the banker reminded me of the questions that should be asked when searching for the right solution for your business’s Web presence.

1. Land (server - physical or virtual)
Several questions apply to the land you choose to build a house on – location, size, what’s already on it, is there room for growth, cost, etc. These same criteria apply to the right server for your Web presence.  Where will the server be located – in a data center or under the desk in your office? How big and fast does the server need to be? As you think about the other questions you’d ask about buying land for your house, remember – the investment into your Web presence starts with the server - the foundation everything is built on.  

2. Address (domain)
When you invite someone over for dinner, you give them the address of your house not the parcel number that is on record at the courthouse. The street address of your house is provided as a usable identifier, instead of a bunch of random letters and numbers. The same is true for the domain you choose to be your address online. Will your customers be able to find you on the Web with the domain you choose? Is it simple and easy to remember?

3. Building structure (application architecture)
The 3 little pigs built their houses from straw, sticks and bricks. Whatever your house is made out of, it needs to be sturdy. What application structure will hold up your Web application – ASP.NET, Java, SQL, Oracle? Most likely there will be some combination of applications that build your structure, just like most houses are a combination of materials.

4. Front porch (what your client sees)
People drive, walk or run by a house, and something about it catches their eye. Hopefully it’s something positive that they see…a nicely painted, manicured and landscaped lawn, etc. If what people see on your Web site is appealing, chances are higher that they will want to stay and see what you’re all about. If you have an over-grown lawn and weeds in the flower beds, there is a chance the potential client might move right past your house to your competition’s.

5. Utility Room (Administrative Tools)
The heating & cooling system and water heater are vital appliances to keep your house comfortable. Typically they are kept in the utility room away from everyday life and visitors, but you and your handyman have access to keep the rest of the house running smoothly. You can imagine the tools that you use to keep your Web site up-to-date the same way. They are accessible online only to the people that need to know they are there to manage the site your customers see.  

6. Garage (data center)
Where do you store the things you want to keep but don’t use on a daily basis? The kids’ bikes, Christmas decorations, camping gear…I keep mine in the garage where I know I can get to it if I need it. This is true of the data center where your equipment for your infrastructure is kept. You don’t need to physically access it regularly, but you know you can if you need to. It is added space to keep the physical assets of your Web presence secure, but out of the way of the everyday hustle and bustle.  

7. Fence (security infrastructure)
The point of a fence is to keep something in or something out. Implementing a ‘fence’ around your Web presence is the same concept – to keep your business’s confidential information confidential and your client’s information private, as well as keeping potential hackers from compromising the integrity of your data.

8. Security System (monitoring)
ADT and Brinks Home Security are examples of home security systems that if programmed correctly will sound the alarm when the boundaries of your home have been breached.   Because of the time and monetary investment you’re making in your presence online, you should take a look at how you will know if the information you’re protecting with your ‘fence’ is compromised.

9. Handyman (developer/engineer)
Every house needs a little TLC to keep it looking nice and functional for your family. The same is true for your Web presence. As your business grows, it is important to have someone you trust to work with to ensure your Web presence accommodates your growth and business needs. This trusted partner should be a person or company that will care as much about your business as they do about their own. This will free up your time to focus on growing your business.

10. Thermostat (business intelligence)
There is a saying in the Midwest that as seasons change, you’ll use the heater in the morning and air conditioning in the afternoon. As easy as it is to change the temperature on the thermostat for your house, do you have that same luxury with your business? Having the right tools in place to know how hot or cold you business is running is vital to being nimble in the current economy.


People in the technology industry have a tendency to speak their own language, and just like any ‘foreign’ language it helps to see a common picture. Hopefully these analogies help demonstrate the importance of understanding all the various aspects of your Web presence.